I think Chris was really onto something, because Bob McCown made a comment last night on Primetime Sports about the possibility of the retro logo and uniforms making a full time return in 2012. (hat tip to @MrWenn for catching it.

"I am led to believe that if you like this current jersey, you better go get one. Because this time next year, they won't be available. I think they're going to go back to the original ones."

Now this might all be here say that McCown overheard in the luxury box at the Home Opener, but I don't think he's very far off base with his suspicion that a logo and uniform change may be in the works.

So does this pave the way for the Blue Jays to return to their original logo and uniforms? In this humble blogger's incredibly speculative baseless opinion, yes.

Many share the sentiment that a team called the "Blue Jays" should really have some semblance of the colour blue in the uniform. Reverting back to the original home whites, road greys and alternate blues would certainly fill that requirement.

Visions of the championship winning teams wearing these uniforms are instilled in our memories, and thus could conjure up a lot of great memories for fans when they watch their favourite players in the retro jerseys.

The flaw in this all is it doesn't quite jive with the movement of the team trying to move away from events like Flashback Fridays, the Back2Back Reunion and everything looking backwards rather than towards the future.

I agree there's no sense in living in the past. However, to truly understand where you're going, you have to know where you've been. There definitely does need to be an appreciation for the Blue Jays teams who wore those uniforms.

In the land of logos, this is the eighth year in which the Blue Jays have used their current logo or "angry bird" as Stephen Brunt referred to it as. Eight years is a long time to stick with a logo and uniform that fans aren't all that crazy about.

I'm not an expert when it comes to creating logos for professional sports teams, but one has to think that the classic look is much more sustainable than a modern look. Ironically, the modern look becomes dated very quickly.

Sticking with a clean, classic logo is the way to go. In my opinion, it looks much sharper. In the Blue Jays case, that old bird is so iconic that it only makes sense to switch back to that logo.

Let me reiterate that this is all just speculation on Bob McCown's and my part, but one has to suspect that something is happening behind the curtain if the powder blues are being dropped by the Blue Jays.

Maybe the perfect solution in all of this is to combine the old with the new. Here's a little something I came up with below. What do you guys think?

18 comments:

Well, I sincerely hope that your incredibly speculative baseless opinion proves to be fact. I don't mind the new logo, but would rather revert back to the old. Having said that, as long as we don't go back to that stupid bird peering out from behind a T (circa 2003?) I'm good.

I hope they keep the maple leaf either way. It has been nice to see it on the sleeves of the current jerseys.

While I'd prefer a full return to the old logo and uniforms, I don't think that will happen. The logo you've proposed at the bottom... I think that's much closer to what will happen if a change is in the offing. I doubt they'd introduce a new mascot (Junior) just to change the type of Jay representing the team the following season.

I don't understand the argument from many that they should get away from the old, and distance themselves from the past in respects to their logo and look. The Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, Giants etc. all realize that they have an iconic logo that the fans love. Such is the case with the classic Jays logo and uniforms.

If you don't believe me, have a look around the stadium and streets of Toronto. Everywhere you go, the majority of people wearing Jays gear are wearing the 'old school' look.

Even those in the NHL are smartening up. The Sabres ditched the 'Trump haired Buffalo' and went back to their classic logo - as did the Rangers, Capitals and to an extent, the Canucks. A return to the old jerseys would not only please the fans, it would be profitable to ownership when it comes to merchandising.

In the old logo, I like the bird itself more than the "ball" background which I feel just has too much red in it. If I were designing a logo that re-uses part of the classic look, I'd probably do the opposite of what you did. That being said, the current logos have always seemed perfectly appropriate to me.

in the days of classic uni's, vintage looking stadiums, and retro logos, the 'newer' Jays logo looks like it should be for roller hockey team, tyring to be young and hip.Go retro, it has always suited baseball.

I'm sure Bobcat wouldn't have commented without there being something to it. Logically, common sense would dictate that the Blue Jays won't design yet another logo, thus further diluting/confusing their branding. Instead, it's clearly the right time to return to the classic, iconic, hugely popular original logo that they've two World Series in, especially now that Roberto Alomar will be inducted into Cooperstown this year with it on his plaque. The Blue Jays will always be associated with and represented by the original logo. With Paul Beeston back in the fold as president, I think he realizes that the team should never have stopped wearing the original logo in the first place, and he's obviously not alone in the desire to wisely return to the original logo (given that an overwhelming majority of Blue Jays fans feel the same way, which I'm sure is reflected in merchandise sales and is pretty clear when you look around to see what fans are wearing). The overall design, trim, colour scheme, and lettering font of the uniforms themselves may change or be tweaked slightly, but clearly the uniforms will revolve around the original logo in it's unaltered form, regardless. If other teams like the Yankees, Red Sox and Tigers, to name a few, can move forward while still wearing their original, classic, accomplished logos, then the Blue Jays can and will too. The original logo is the definitive, all encompasing Blue Jays logo that represents not only past Blue Jays greats like Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter, but it will also represent current and future Blue Jays like Jose Bautista, Brandon Morrow, J.P. Arencibia and Brett Lawrie. Truth be told, they likely did away with the powder blues to focus on selling as many "current" jerseys as possible this year to clear the deck and pave the way for the permanent return of the original logo next season. Baseball is all about classic, throwback, retro, nostalgic tradition rather than nouveau, flashy, gaudy logos and colour schemes that perhaps other sports embrace instead. Go Blue Jays!

Anon, great comment! If the Blue Jays don't revert back to the original logo, I think they'd definitely try to incorporate the "old bird" as much as possible into these rumoured new logos and uniforms.

I can see a tweak or slight alteration to the old logo to try to bring it up to the 21st century, but keeping with the same colour scheme.

How to Contact the Blue Jay Hunter

About the Blue Jay Hunter

The Blue Jay Hunter is a blog about the Toronto Blue Jays, which takes a look at the team under the microscope. Mixed in with just a hint of humour, and a shred of dignity. I also have an affinity for baseball moustaches.